LG may update its flagship V30 with an AI camera

LG’s V30 smartphone arrived last fall as a strong flagship with notable flaws, but we loved how much it suited the vlog life. Rumor has it that LG will announce a new model at the upcoming Mobile World Congress: The V30s, a largely similar phone equipped with a new AI-powered camera.

Per the rumor mill (ETNews via Phone Radar), the V30s’ AI camera would work with an “LG Lens” functionality similar to Google Lens on the Pixel 2 or Bixby Vision on Samsung’s Galaxy S8. In other words, point the phone at an object and the camera will recognize it and provide on-screen context. It’s unclear if that extends beyond AI recognition to the heights of assistanceship that Samsung’s and Google’s AI-plus-camera platforms aspire to be.

Scuttlebutt also noted that the LG V30s should offer 256GB of internal storage, the same as the hideously expensive 2 million won ($1,800) V30 Signature Edition and double the 128GB cap of the stock LG V30. The new model will also include a MicroSD slot for further expansion. Assuming Phone Radar’s leaks are accurate, the V30s will go on sale in South Korea in early March after it debuts at MWC.

Via: The Verge, ETNews

Source: Phone Radar

iPhone Source Code Was Leaked by Low-Level Apple Employee

Earlier this week, source code for iBoot, a core component of the iPhone’s operating system, leaked on GitHub. The code was old, for a version of iOS 9, and it was quickly pulled from GitHub after Apple issued a DMCA takedown notice, but it left many wondering how such sensitive code ended up publicly available.

To answer that question, Motherboard got in touch with unnamed sources who were involved in the leak and investigated screenshots, text messages, and more, to determine just how it happened.

As it turns out, the code originally came from a low-level Apple employee who took the code from Apple in 2016 to share with friends in the jailbreaking community. This employee wasn’t unhappy with Apple and didn’t steal the code with malicious intent, but instead was encouraged by friends to obtain the code to benefit the jailbreaking community.

The person took the iBoot source code–and additional code that has yet to be widely leaked–and shared it with a small group of five people.

“He pulled everything, all sorts of Apple internal tools and whatnot,” a friend of the intern told me. Motherboard saw screenshots of additional source code and file names that were not included in the GitHub leak and were dated from around the time of this first leak.

The original group of five people who were provided with access to the code didn’t intend to share it, but it somehow got out. From one of the original people involved:

“I personally never wanted that code to see the light of day. Not out of greed but because of fear of the legal firestorm that would ensue,” they said. “The Apple internal community is really full of curious kids and teens.I knew one day that if those kids got it they’d be dumb enough to push it to GitHub.”

The code began circulating more widely in 2017 and picked up in popularity late in the year before ending up on GitHub this week. Many in the jailbreaking and iPhone research communities attempted to stop sharing, but the major public leak couldn’t be avoided.

According to the unnamed people who spoke to Motherboard, what leaked wasn’t the “full leak.” “It’s not the original leak-it’s a copy,” said one source.

Following the leak, Apple confirmed the authenticity of the code in a statement to MacRumors and pointed out that it’s for a three-year-old operating system that’s been replaced by iOS 11 and is in use only on a small number of devices.

“Old source code from three years ago appears to have been leaked, but by design the security of our products doesn’t depend on the secrecy of our source code. There are many layers of hardware and software protections built into our products, and we always encourage customers to update to the newest software releases to benefit from the latest protections.”

The iBoot code leak should not be of concern to the average user because Apple has many layers of protection in place, like the Secure Enclave, and does not rely on source code secrecy alone to keep its users safe. The leak could, however, make it easier for people to locate vulnerabilities to create new jailbreaks.
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Keep your New Year’s resolutions alive with the SweatWorking app

February 9 likely isn’t a day of much import in your life. Really, it’s not a day of much import in anyone’s life, mostly because it’s around the time that most New Year’s resolutions become distant memories rather than motivating goals. But this year, we may just find a reason to commemorate not only February 9, but the promise that you made to yourself at the end of 2017. That is, assuming your promise was fitness-related.

The creators of aSweatLife.com, the online fitness community and resource, have launched SweatWorking. This new subscription-based fitness app and marketplace hopes to save the 80 percent of people who give up on their resolutions, and just in the nick of time.

Combining affordability with convenience, SweatWorking hopes to make fitness more accessible to the masses. If you’re not comfortable with the judging eyes in group fitness classes or the sky high prices of a single 45-minute spin class, this may be the app for you. Whether you’re into barre, HIIT, cycling, yoga, or strength training, you can find it in this app. A monthly subscription will set you back just $5 if you’re looking to do no more than five workouts, or you can opt for the unlimited plan for $15 a month. Workouts are available in audio, video, and image-based formats, so you can work out the way you like.

“We like to think of ourselves as the Etsy of the fitness world, taking a more grass roots approach to fitness,” said Jeana Anderson Cohen, the founder and CEO of aSweatLife. “We’ve created a marketplace where everybody wins and both the trainers and trainees are empowered to both take control and have fun with their journey.”

To kick off the launch of the app, SweatWorking is debuting a 30-day fitness challenge beginning on February 12. Conceptualized and created by a number of top trainers on the platform (like Betina Gozo, winner of Women’s Health Next Fitness Star) and David Carson (former professional basketball player) the challenge encourages folks to work out with a team of friends. Participants can track one another’s progress, adding a healthy dose of competition and accountability to the program. Plus, those who complete the challenge workouts will be eligible for a $50 gift card in an end-of-the-week raffle. And at the end of the challenge, you could be up for the grand prize: A pair of Apple AirPods.

You can download SweatWorking from the iOS app store beginning today.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Ditch the gym and fulfill your New Year’s resolutions at home with Aaptiv
• Get fit on a budget with the Vivo app and its army of personal trainers
• Put your health first and get into shape with the best iPhone fitness apps
• Find your fitness with our favorite health and fitness apps for Android
• Cultivate a healthy mind, body, and soul with the five best yoga apps

If you’re not sold on Siri, you can now get Microsoft’s Cortana on your iPad

Not sold on Siri? Apathetic towards Alexa and Assistant? iPad owners now have another choice for voice assistance with the introduction of Microsoft’s Cortana on Apple iPad.

Cortana was previously made available for the iPhone way back in December 2015, and while you could download the Cortana app on your iPad, it wouldn’t utilize the larger screen. With this update, Cortana has been changed to take full advantage of the iPad’s larger screen real estate, making Microsoft’s voice assistant fully available on iPad devices. As an additional little bonus, Cortana also now launches 20 percent faster on all iOS devices.

If you’ve had any experience with a voice assistant (a device that is rapidly gaining broad market acceptance), then you probably know what to expect from Cortana. Like the rest of the available voice assistants out there, Cortana is activated by speaking a specific hotword aloud — in this case, it’s “Cortana.” Like others, Cortana is linked up to various different apps, including Netflix, Audible, and Spotify — but she can also respond to requests for information, such as a request for the current weather, or you can set reminders for later.

What’s the advantage of using Cortana over Apple’s built-in Siri? There really isn’t  one, but variety is the spice of life, and it’s nice to have the option to migrate to a different voice assistant should your present helper get too snarky for you, or not suit your needs. However, since Apple’s walled garden is a fairly restricted one, Cortana is only allowed to function within its own app, so you won’t be able to use Cortana if your screen is locked, for instance.

Uniquely for voice assistants, Cortana has a history outside of the specific app and voice assistance. Cortana the voice assistant is named after another Cortana — a character in the Halo video game series, a synthetic intelligence that assists the main character through most of the games in the series. Fitting for an A.I.-based intelligence for sure, and a cute little Easter egg for Halo fans. Still, it’s a fun little addition, and Microsoft went as far as to ask the same voice actress to reprise her role as the voice assistant.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Alexa, you’re great. But please stay away from my PC
• Cheetah Mobile’s Android launcher is the first to feature Microsoft’s Cortana
• Stop shouting orders at your dashboard with Bosch’s new in-car voice assistant
• Xiaomi’s next A.I.-packed voice assistant speaker may support Cortana
• Microsoft’s Glas thermostat knocks Nest with Cortana and air quality monitoring

Internet Association pressures Senate to reverse FCC’s net neutrality repeal

The Internet Association (IA), an American political lobbying group that includes such internet giants as Facebook, Google, Amazon, and eBay, has continued to pile the pressure on the United States Senate to reverse the FCC’s controversial vote on net neutrality repeal, back in December 2017. In an open letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the IA argues that a free and open internet is to the benefit of all users, and that the net neutrality rules need to stay in place to combat the ruthless monopoly held by broadband providers in many areas.

“Americans rely on and deserve the lasting certainty of an open internet enshrined in the U.S. Code. Strong net neutrality rules are necessitated by, among other factors, the lack of competition in the broadband service market,” said Michael Beckerman, president and CEO of the IA. “More than half of all Americans have no choice in their provider, and 87 percent of rural Americans have no choice. The CRA [Congressional Review Act] is an important step in solidifying open internet protections.”

The strong opposition to the FCC’s ruling has been overt and plentiful, with challenges coming not only from pressure groups, but from legal challenges by state attorneys general, and direct challenges from individual states that are seeking to set their own rules regarding net neutrality. The legal challenges against the vote recently took new ground as the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) agreed to look into the claims that millions of American citizens had been fraudulently impersonated during the FCC’s public opinion gathering.

It seems that the FCC may also face severe threats from within the Senate as well, as The Hill reports that a bill to overturn the FCC’s decision has garnered the support of the entire Democratic party and a single Republican senator. This means that only one more Republican senator is needed to push the bill through.

While the IA supports these attempts, it also wishes for net neutrality to become codified into law, establishing permanent protections that would be resistant to any shift in opinion at the FCC, saying that “the time has come for a bipartisan effort to establish permanent net neutrality rules for consumers, startups, established internet businesses, and internet service providers.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• What you need to know about net neutrality
• Multiple challengers take on the FCC’s net neutrality repeal
• Republican Senator Susan Collins will support Democrats’ net neutrality vote
• Here’s how tech influencers reacted to the FCC’s net neutrality repeal
• What everyone’s saying about the FCC’s net neutrality plan (in GIF form)

WhatsApp beta testers can now send payments in India

Similar to other payment solutions, WhatsApp uses UPI for sending and receiving money.

For almost a year at this point, we’ve known that WhatsApp has been toying with the idea of adding a peer-to-peer payment service for its users in India. A move like this makes sense for the company, and according to some users of the WhatsApp beta, this functionality is now starting to become available.

To start making using this new feature, you should see a new “Payments” tab within your WhatsApp settings. Tapping this will take you to a splash screen, and once you accept WhatsApp’s terms of service/privacy policy, you’ll be asked to select your bank and enter your account information.

Once your account is linked, you’ll be able to start sending money to other WhatsApp users by tapping the attachments icon in a conversation. Tapping on a transaction that you send or receive will show its status and which of your bank accounts was used, and after the initial setup process, you can go back to the Payments settings page to view your entire payment history.

WhatsApp uses India’s UPI system for managing payments, and supported banks include Axis Bank, State Bank Of India, Yes Bank, ICICI Bank, and plenty more.

Along with being limited to users in India, you’ll also need to ensure you’re signed up for the WhatsApp beta to start using this. The feature is still rolling out, so if you have trouble linking your bank at first, be sure to try again later on.

Google will soon let you pay and manage your bills with Tez

Android 8.0 Oreo coming to Galaxy S6 series and Note 5 on T-Mobile

Samsung’s old flagships will soon get a new life.

Samsung and software updates go together like oil and water. The company’s been infamous for years in regards to the speed and longevity at which it updates its existing hardware, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see that the entire Galaxy S6 series and Galaxy Note 5 will, in fact, be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo.

If you head to T-Mobile’s support site, you can see that the Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, and Note 5 all show that their current software phase is complete for “Version 8.0 Oreo.” This means that T-Mobile and Samsung have both agreed to support Oreo for these devices, and considering that the S6 and S6 edge will be three years old this April, that’s pretty incredible.

It’s unclear at this time if other carriers in the U.S. will follow in T-Mobile’s footsteps, and there’s also no word as to when Oreo will start to roll out to the above devices.

Even with those uncertainties in mind, this is still exciting news. Galaxy S6 and Note 5 owners, who’s pumped?

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion

Learn how to invest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies for just $29!

Bitcoin and cryptocurrency has been widely covered in the news lately, but still many have no idea what exactly cryptocurrency is or whether or not it’s even a real thing. If you fall into that camp, now’s a great time to get in on Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies right when prices have taken a dip after reaching a record high, and it’s still relatively low when you consider other trading options like the New York Stock Exchange. But how and where do you even get started?

The Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Mastery Bundle includes everything you need to break into the exciting world of cryptocurrency investment. This bundle grants you a lifetime subscription to six courses on how cryptocurrency works for just $29 while they regularly retail for $100 altogether. You save 70%!

The bundle includes courses that cover the following aspects of cryptocurrency investment:

• The Complete Bitcoin Course: Get .0001 BTC In Your Wallet
• Bitcoin For Business: How To Accept Bitcoin
• Start & Secure Your Bitcoin Future: Join the Revolution
• Initial Coin Offering A-Z: Become a Smart ICO Investor
• Cryptocurrency Trading
• Certified Bitcoin Professional

These courses will lay out everything you need to know to get started accepting Bitcoin through your business, growing your cryptocurrency portfolio, backing new cryptocurrencies as they pop up, and how to manage your collection. If you’ve ever been tempted to dive into cryptocurrencies then check out The Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Mastery Bundle today and save 70%!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

Put some love on your wallpaper this Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Wallpapers to make you say “So this is love.”

Whether you’ll be spending Valentine’s Day with your special someone or blissfully single, there’s no denying that there’s love in the air. In the dark and cold of February, we could all use a little warmth and sweetness in our lives, and we could some on our home screens, too! Put a little love in your heart and your Android with these wallpapers.

Heart wallpapers are available far and wide, but none attain quite the balance of beauty and brains as this Interstellar Heart series. The geometric, gradient-filled heart is overlaid with an algorithmic lattice, and the wallpaper’s warm gradient is dotted with stars. On the whole, a beautiful piece, which makes it little wonder that it’s available on Google’s Wallpapers app under the Art category. There’s also a darker version for those looking for something a little less pink.

Interstellar Heart III by VessDSign

Valentine’s Day is coming, and no one does Valentine’s Day quite like Disney. The Disney Style blog has conjured up not one but five lovely wallpapers ready to grace your phone. From Tangled’s Floating Lanterns to a love-struck Ariel, there’s a wallpaper here for every kind of romance.

Valentine’s Day Wallpapers from Disney Style

Howl and Sophie is a love story that resounds deeply with fans worldwide because it’s a story that has depth. Howl is brash, he is vain, and even for all his magical know-how and tactical experience, he is at heart an idiot. And just as Sophie peels back the layers on Howl’s life and begins to see and love him for what he truly is, Howl learns to see past the spell on Sophie and trust her and the feelings he has for her. Love is about acceptance, love is about trust, and love is about overcoming your own fear for them.

Howl and Sophie Wallpaper by Yuuza

The Princess Bride is a kissing story, and y’know, we don’t mind so much anymore. Buttercup and Wesley is also a love story that is as messed up as it is awesome and romantic, and Wesley’s three word confession/affirmation of love is endearing, adorable, and makes every girl yearn for a pirate to order around.

This wallpaper is simple, elegant, and at the same time whisks us back to our childhoods dreaming of a true love that just won’t quit. It’s inconceivable how versatile a wallpaper it is!

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

As you wish… by nuke-vizard

Roses are a symbol of love, of admiration, of affection, and while they may rise in popularity around Valentine’s Day, I am here to tell you that roses rock every day of the year. They are beautiful, they are fragrant, they are also a wonderful metaphor for love.

They take lots of time, love, and care to maintain. They’re prone to hurt you if you’re not careful (and even if you are, sometimes). They usually take forever to bloom into something beautiful, and then that beauty can fade so quickly. They’re susceptible to frost, heat waves, and all kinds of brights and beasties.

And they are so, so worth it.

Summer Rose by insomniac199

This may be one of the better pictures I’ve ever taken. Snapped alongside the rose path at Epcot, this yellow rose has the perfect kiss of sun on it. Yellow roses are a symbol of friendship, not romance, so this wallpaper can give your phone a festive air without being lovey-dovey. While this wallpaper is quite flexible when it comes to icon packs, Glim is what I’ve used with it.

Sunset Rose by Ara Wagoner

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and kissing. Oh, no, this holiday is known far and wide for the sweet treats that lovers and food-lovers whip up in order to show their affection with confection. These cupcakes may look simple, but that frosting job with the white roses marbling into red roses makes it a perfect wallpaper for those who want a Valentine’s Day wallpaper that isn’t quite as saccharine, but still makes you nostalgic.

And makes you a little bit hungry.

First time cupcakes by /u/mang0es

Want a Valentine’s Day theme for you phone fit for royalty? Head over to our Dark Disney Princess theme pack for some delectable themes with a dark flair and fresh new music widgets. Whether you’re singing So This is Love or A Whole New World, we’ve got themes for the original OTPs!

Dark Disney Princess Themes

Updated February 2018: We’ve expanded this article for a new year and a new Valentine’s Day. Fill your home screen with love!

LG V30s may come to MWC with AI camera tech and 256GB storage

Will this be enough to keep people interested in LG?

While LG will release a successor to the G6 at some point in 2018, we’re not going to see it at this year’s Mobile World Congress as we were originally expecting. A report from mid-January suggested that LG would use the annual trade-show to unveil an upgraded version of the V30 in place of the G7, and more information about this is starting to trickle in.

According to ETNews, the phone we see at MWC later this month will be called the LG V30s. It’ll feature nearly identical hardware compared to the regular V30, with the one exception being more onboard storage at 256GB.

The V30s sounds like too little too late.

In addition to this, it’s also said that the V30s will debut a new feature called “LG Lens.” Specifics on LG Lens are still up in the air, but it’s expected to be similar to the likes of Google Lens and Bixby Vision in the sense that you’ll be able to use the V30s’s camera to look up more information on items around you, shop for products you see, and use augmented reality for GPS navigation.

While I enjoy messing with Google Lens from time-to-time on the Pixel 2, I just can’t see this being a strong enough selling point for LG. The possibilities for what can be done with AI and camera viewfinders are endless, but even Google – a company with more user data and AI prowess than anyone else – is still trying to find reasons to make people use it.

We won’t have to wait too much longer to see what LG’s working on, but at this point in time, I don’t imagine customers will be flocking to the V30s over the Galaxy S9.

LG has officially stopped selling phones in China